MAKING A POINT: Outgoing Pakistani scholar Salman Shaikh speaking at the seminar organised in his honour at Intercontinental Doha, The City, last week.

Former head of Brookings Doha Center Salman Shaikh felicitated at a
gathering attended by prominent members of the Pakistani community,
diplomatic corps and local businessmen. By Umer Nangiana
Pakistan should set up a joint co-operation commission with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC). Such a body can play a key role in regional development and security, said Salman Shaikh, a prominent Pakistani scholar and former head of Brookings Doha Center.
Speaking at a farewell gathering, jointly organised for him by Pakistan Engineers Forum-Qatar (PEF-Q) and Professional Toastmasters Advance Club (PTMAdv), both Qatar-based Pakistani community forums at Intercontinental Doha, The City, Shaikh said Pakistan is a very important country as it does not just possess abundant natural resources, it is strategically located geo-politically.
“Pakistan, however, needs to look into its colonial bureaucratic system and bring about rapid changes to meet present day’s requirements as a sovereign and forward moving nation. No nation can move forward until it focuses on education and get rid of feudalism,” said Shaikh while speaking on the topic, ‘Pakistan-Heading Where’, at the gathering attended by prominent members of the Pakistani community besides members of diplomatic corps and local businessmen.
Among the guests invited were Ewa Polano, ambassador of Sweden, Munir Ghannam, ambassador of Palestine, a large number of diplomats, Sheikh Fahad bin Ali bin Jassim al-Thani, a prominent entrepreneur, Tahir Jamil, president PEF and Muhammad Abrar Hussain, president of Pak Arts Society, Qatar.
In the beginning, Ashraf Siddiqui, a Pakistani community member and author presented a brief timeline of important historical facts about the country since its birth in 1947 to present-day economic and political situation including the most recent internal security and safety situation.
PEF General Secretary Noman Gul, who earlier thanked keynote speaker Salman Shaikh and the guests for accepting their invitation on a short notice, conducted the programme, sponsored by Goldenline Trading and Gourmet restaurants.
Salman Shaikh is leaving Qatar after completing his term as director of Brookings Doha Center. He is also a fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy. A respected scholar, Shaikh is considered an authority on Middle East and North Africa (Mena) regional affairs. His research focuses on transitional processes, domestic politics, and international relations in the Middle East with a particular focus on Gulf countries and the Levant.
Recently, Shaikh worked extensively to facilitate national dialogue among Syrian constituencies, as well as to advise policy on regional and international involvement in the Syrian crisis.
Prior to joining Brookings Center, Shaikh worked with the United Nations for nearly a decade. During his tenure there, he served as special assistant to the Special Co-ordinator for Middle East Peace Process, as political adviser to the Secretary General’s Personal Representative for Lebanon during the 2006 war and as special assistant of the Middle East and Asia to the office of the Undersecretary General for Political Affairs.
Shaikh also worked as director for Policy and Research in the office of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
Speaking at the occasion, Naval Commodore Masud Akram, the Defense Attaché at the embassy of Pakistan, stressed that Pakistan is a peace loving country and its nuclear capabilities are only for self defence and peaceful purposes.
“Pakistani armed forces are considered as one of the most skilled and are counted among the world’s major defence forces. Pakistan has rendered huge sacrifices in the war against terrorism, witnessing loss of human lives besides immense financial losses,” said Masud.
However, he said, his country has no offensive designs against any country in the world and Pakistan wants peaceful and friendly relations with countries in the region and all across the world.
The defence attaché said Pakistan has made some tremendous achievements in different fields and areas and is making a steady progress. He praised Shaikh for his services as a think tank at different levels and commended the scholar’s analytical abilities.